Keuchel and Braves Sweep Away Mets

BRAVES 2 - METS 1 

It was a lost opportunity.  After sweeping away the Cleveland Indians during the week, the New York Mets had a chance to make a major statement in both the NL East and the NL Wild Card race with a series victory against their arch rivals the Atlanta Braves.

Instead, the Braves proved they are better in almost all facets of the game then the Mets are right now, sweeping the Amazin’s, while sending them to 12 games out of the East, and two games out of the wild card.

Fortnuately for the Mets they didn’t lose too much ground in the Wild Card thanks to the Chicago Cubs getting swept by the Washington Nationals over the weekend. Oh, by the way, the Cubs come to Citi Field on Tuesday.

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the Mets couldn’t get their bats going against Braves’ starter Dallas Keuchel, who completely befuddled the Mets hitters over seven shutout innings, holding New York to four hits, and not allowing a single runner to third base.

The best chance the Mets had to score on Keuchel came in the bottom of the sixth when Amed Rosario led off the inning with a single with Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto all due to bat behind him.

It turned out nothing came of that chance. McNeil grounded into a fielder’s choice, erasing Rosario at second base. Keuchel then struck out Alonso looking on a fastball outside, and came back to strike out Conforto on a slider low and inside.  That was it for the Mets.

Sure, New York had a few other chances against the bearded lefty, but with having the meat of the order up in the bottom of the sixth was their best shot, and they couldn’t capitalize.

Meanwhile, Josh Donaldson got all the runs the Braves needed. He connected on a solo homer to the left field corner in the top of the second inning off Steven Matz. Donaldson later crushed a Paul Sewald pitch into the 7 Line seats in center to give the Braves a 2-0 lead in the seventh.

While Matz struggled at times with his command, he did pitch well, allowing only the one run on two hits over six innings to take the loss.

Finally in the ninth inning, the Mets had something cooking. With closer Mark Melancon, Alonso led off with a double into the left field corner to open the inning. After Conforto grounded out to third, JD Davis singled to move Alonso to third. Todd Fraizer then hit a sharp grounder to shortstop, but the Braves couldn’t compete the double-play, scoring Alonso and keeping the Mets alive.

Pinch hitting for the light hitting Juan Lagares, Wilson Ramos singled through the hole between first and second putting everyone at the edge of their seats, but it was all for naught. Joe Panik couldn’t keep the rally going, grounding softly out to Freedie Freeman at first base, ending the game.

The loss puts the Mets at 67-63 on the year. They face the reeling Cubs on Tuesday at Citi Field. Even with the sweep at the hands of the Braves, the Mets still have a shot at the Wild Card if they can take care of their own business.